TX: Capital Metro Names New Chief Financial Officer

Capital Metro has announced that Leslie Browder will be joining the transit agency as its new executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective April 14, 2014. She will report directly to President/CEO Linda S. Watson.

Browder comes to the agency from Travis County, where she served as the executive manager of planning, budgets, human resources, information technology and facilities management. Prior to her work there, Browder was chief financial officer for the city of Austin. Her tenure at the city spanned nearly 20 years, where she also served as deputy chief financial officer, and managed finances for the city’s airport.

“I’m delighted that someone with such an incredible background as Leslie’s will be guiding our financial efforts here at Capital Metro,” said President/CEO Watson. “She is a strong and capable leader, and I know she will help the agency continue on its path of financial stability and transparency.”

In addition to her work with the county and city, Browder also served as Capital Metro’s chief financial officer from 1998 to 2001. Other positions held include finance director for the city of Encinitas in California and chief financial officer for San Diego County’s public pension system.

"I am really looking forward to the opportunity to serve as part of Capital Metro’s team,” said Browder. “This is an exciting time to be at Capital Metro, especially as it relates to all the expansion plans in the works for the region’s transportation system.”

Browder’s professional achievements include awards from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for her preparation of comprehensive annual financial reports and budget documents. She has also conducted feasibility and cost/benefit studies, developed long-range financial plans, and managed the implementation of complex accounting systems.

Browder received her Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin, and is a certified public accountant.